Attorney Solomon-Simmons and Crutcher Family Attorneys React to Manslaughter Charges

By Samantha Vicent and Corey Jones Tulsa World

Attorneys for Crutcher’s family assembled outside the courthouse a couple of hours after the charge was announced to meet with a large assembly of reporters.

Damario Solomon-Simmons discussed how Thursday was just the first step in a long walk toward justice.

“We know that nothing that happens — not charges, not convictions, not sentencing — nothing will bring Terence back,” Solomon-Simmons said. “We know that while this may be a day where justice has begun, it’s still a sad day because at the same time the DA was identifying the charges, this family was at the funeral home preparing to bury Terence.

“Never lose sight of that.”

A reporter asked whether Crutcher bore any of the blame for the escalation of his encounter with Shelby because he didn’t comply with her demands.

“The police encounter people every day who fail to comply with instruction, whether it’s a DUI or a public intoxication or any situation,” attorney Melvin Hall said. “The law does not authorize the use of lethal force merely because someone fails to comply.”

Tiffany Crutcher, Terence Crutcher’s twin sister, demanded a “full prosecution,” saying a charge without a conviction isn’t enough. She said the chains of injustice and police brutality will break in Tulsa, with everyone from all walks of life joining in.

“We want for everyone — the community and the world — to lock arms with us as we go out and make everyone aware that today we can change this nation,” Tiffany Crutcher said. “We can heal this nation.”